Tungsten does not occur by itself in nature. It is only present in different chemical compounds. For industrial purposes, the two most important minerals are tungsten-bearing wolframite ((Fe, Mn) WO 4) - or, as some would call ferberite-Huberite and scheelite (CaWO4). These are the two minerals that are often exploited to produce tungsten.

China now dominates the primary production of tungsten in the world. The U.S. Geological Survey [USGS] Estimates of global mine production in 2007 that China produces some 77,000 tons of metal, 86% of world production.

Note: Andrew mine, northeast of Los Angeles, operated by Curtis tungsten, tungsten began shipping concentrates in October 2007, but the figures for these shipments are not disclosed.

Chinese tungsten concentrate output 1996-2007 (tons)

In addition, the USGS has calculated that China is a reserve base for about 67% of the reserve base of the world total.